by Kenya Wright
“Flattening the curve is the goal to slow the spread of coronavirus. Not an excuse to be an asshole to people.”
I leaned against the doorway. “Back to our conversation on your move.”
She ran the washcloth underwater and grabbed her pineapple mango face wash. “We weren’t talking about that.”
“Now, we are.”
“We should wait for Amber to leave your condo.”
“She’s leaving.”
“And we should see if we can even finish this week off in peace.”
“I’m enjoying myself. Are you?”
She blushed. “Yes.”
“What’s the problem?”
“Kamal, you’re basically asking me to move in with you.”
“Temporary.”
“So, after the quarantine, I leave?”
“I don’t want you to.”
She shut off the faucet and left the wet soapy cloth hanging. “I have a whole life in Los Angeles. I’m supposed to do a showing at the end of the summer. However. . .it may be canceled. I planned on calling the gallery this week.”
“You can do plenty of showings in New York. We have a better art scene.”
“Wow. You’re just going to shit on your home city for your new one?”
“When it comes to convincing you to move here. . .yes.”
Smiling, she squeezed the washcloth and tried to lift it to clean her face.
I stopped her hands and pulled her close to me. “You know you want to move in? Stop playing me with me.”
“It’s not that I don’t want to move in—”
“You’re just being scary.”
“I’m being careful—”
“During a pandemic?”
“Yes. That’s a good time to be careful.”
“Forget all of that.” I nipped at her lips. “Are you going to pretend like these past days haven’t been amazing?”
“They’ve been outstanding.”
“Everyone is in their homes, terrified. Some are all alone, wishing that they had a little bit of what we’ve just found. Count your blessings and stay with me.”
“I was talking to my friend Karen last night and she told me that there’s this new phenomenon of coronabaes.”
I sighed. “I don’t know what that is, but it has nothing to do with us.”
“A coronabae is quarantine bae for short.”
I frowned.
“This is someone a man or woman starts dating while in self-isolation who they really wouldn’t even be with if times were fine—”
“Stop right there.”
“It’s a real thing.”
“You’re attractive and smart. Excellent cook and you have the best pussy that I’ve experienced in my entire life on this earth.”
She bit her lip.
“Add all of that with the fact that my mother loves you. And she hates everybody that I bring home. Then multiply that with the fact that my sister sees you as her favorite sibling and would trade you over me.”
She widened her eyes.
“Coronabae? You’re not that to me. If anything, I’m a moron for not grabbing you sooner.”
“Okay, but—”
“No. I’m into you and we’re perfect together. Stay with me. Let’s see how it works out. Let’s take it week by week. If you hate the time with me, I’ll bow out like a man and help you get home.”
She didn’t respond as if she was going over the advantages and disadvantages in her head.
I held my hands in prayer. “You’ll have all the space and free time you require, princess.”
She grinned. “We’ll need some. . .rules to make sure that it works out.”
I leaned my head to the side. “Rules?”
“Yes.” She left me.
“What rules? I don’t know. I’ll have to think of some.”
I nodded. “Fine. Come up with some rules and I’ll follow them.”
She wiped her face with the cloth.
“Damn. You’re so fucking beautiful. I’m not going to let you go back to Los Angeles.”
She laughed.
My phone rang.
“You’re lucky someone’s calling.” I left the doorway.
“Why am I lucky?” she called back.
“Because the next time you bent over to wash your face, I was going to pull those shorts down.”
“You’re so nasty, Kamal.”
“That’s one of the qualities you enjoy.” I picked up my phone and answered, “Hello?”
Tyler’s dark voice hit the line. “Are you back with her or not?”
“Who?”
“Miss California.”
“No.”
“Interesting. You sound like you’ve been having sex, man.”
“What?! How would you know that?”
“Motherfucker, I’ve known you since you were eight. I can always tell when you’ve just had a nut.”
“First, that’s too much information.” I went out to the balcony and shut the door behind me. “Second, don’t ever tell me you can tell I’ve had sex.”
“Oh, you’ve been fucking.” Tyler chuckled. “You sound more chipper than the last time we talked.”
“That day I had just caught Amber cheating. I should sound better.”
“No, but now you sound like you’re about to start singing.”
I spotted many of the rude Park Slopers leaving their balconies and going inside their apartments. “What’s up, Tyler? How’s the wife?”
“She’s nagging me double time. I kind of wish I caught the virus. Then, she couldn’t be around me. I mentioned that she and I should social distance in the house.”
“Her response?”
“She made me sleep on the fucking couch last night.”
I laughed. “That is social distancing.”
“Yeah, man. But I wanted a little sex in between it.”
“Sounds like you’ll need to get her favorite flowers.”
“Man, she’s on her period. It would be a waste.”
“Period or not, give her some flowers. She deserves some for dealing with you.” I gazed down at the street. Not many walked today. Almost all of the stores were closed. “Why are you calling me early in the morning with this?”
“I’m sitting in the backyard, bored as fuck and sipping a beer, hoping she don’t catch me.” He lowered his voice. “So, who did you fuck?”
“A gentleman never tells.”
“Shit. Come on, Kamal. I’m vicariously living through my only single friend right now.”
I was about to respond and paused when I caught something in front of me. Down below, Amber stood across the street, looking up at me.
No. What are you doing? Go back. Fuck!
“Come on, Kamal. Just give me a little bit of detail about this new chick.”
“Hey, Tyler. I have to go.” I hung up.
Amber raised her hand and waved at me.
No! Jade and I are doing well and here you come again?
Frowning, I called Amber.
She took her phone out of her bag and placed it next to her ear. “Kamal.”
“Why are you here?”
“I just wanted to talk. Don’t worry. I was waiting for her to walk the dog before I came up.”
“You’ve been watching the apartment?”
“Um. . .no.”
“But you know she walks the dog in the morning.”
“Please, Kamal. One conversation. That’s it.”
I gripped the balcony railing, wanting to tear it off.
“Kamal?”
I gazed to my right. A pizza store sat at the corner. People looked to be going in and out.
“Kamal, please.”
“Go to the pizza spot at the corner.” I pointed in that direction. “We talk for five minutes and then you leave.”
“I swear. That’s all I want.”
I hung up.
Fuck!
Amber headed off.
The balcony door bumped op
en.
I spun around.
“It’s nice out here.” Jade strolled out, raising her face. Sunlight covered her beautiful brown skin. “God, it’s a beautiful day. Ganesha is going to enjoy—”
“Let me take him out.”
She blinked. “You want to take him for a walk?”
No. Don’t make an excuse. But. . .she should know that there’s no more drama. . .and. . .
“Kamal?” She stepped close to me. “What?”
I tapped my phone against my leg. “Amber wants to talk. I was going to take Ganesha out and then deal with her.”
The enjoyable expression on her face left. “Oh.”
I sighed. “I don’t want to deal with Amber, but she’s here.”
“What?” Jade scanned the space below us.
“I told her to go to the pizza joint over there. I didn’t want her around you anymore. This whole shit is embarrassing.”
Jade edged back. “No.”
“No, what?”
“I’ll take Ganesha for a walk. You go talk to Amber.”
I frowned. “I told you that all of this Amber shit would be done with and here I am—”
“Kamal, it hasn’t even been a week.” She gave me a weak smile. “You’re a good man. She fucked up. Clearly she is going to fight for you. Most would.”
I reached out for Jade.
She stepped back. “No. Go talk to her.”
But I want to hold you. I want to take you to the bedroom and make love to you. I don’t want to deal with Amber’s shit anymore.
I was about to speak.
Jade left me on the balcony.
Fuck!
I headed back into the bedroom. “Jade?”
She brushed her hair into a ponytail. “Yes?”
What do I say?
My heartbeats increased. I went behind her, grabbed her waist, and hugged her from the back. “Are you upset? Pissed? Annoyed? Turned off? Talk to me.”
She stopped brushing her hair and leaned back on me. “I’ve never dealt with anything like this. Not that my exes aren’t weirdos.”
I kissed the curve of her neck. “I haven’t dealt with this either.”
“We just have to see.” She left my hold.
I tried to pull her back.
She moved my hands. “Go talk to her.”
“You say that as if things may change when I come back.”
“They could.” She grabbed a regular hospital mask, instead of her assassin’s one.
I scowled. “Things won’t change between us.”
“What if she has something to talk about that could change it all.” Jade shrugged. “What if she’s pregnant or something?”
I held my hands out. “We haven’t had sex since January.”
“Still.”
“If Amber were pregnant, she would need a paternity test before we discussed anything further. I’m done with her.”
“Okay.” Jade left the bedroom and called back. “I’m going to walk Ganesha. I’ll see you later.”
Note to self. Never make Jade uncomfortable.
I could feel her putting distance between us, guarding her heart, and making sure I didn’t involve her in this craziness. Every part of me yearned to go after Jade and finish this conversation. But she was right, I had to conclude this shit with Amber.
I shouldn’t have even said yes to talking to her. I need a book on dealing with a crazy ex.
Amber hinted at the fact that she’d been watching the apartment. She knew Jade walked Ganesha in the mornings. That unsettled me.
This is getting out of hand. I end this today.
The front door slammed closed. Jade and Ganesha had left.
I should be with them, not still dealing with Amber.
Chapter 16
Kamal
Six-Feet Economy
Ten minutes later, I arrived at the pizza spot. On the door, a sign announced that all people would need masks to enter and that everyone had to keep six feet between them.
I entered. Yellow lines covered the floor, instructing each customer that they couldn’t go beyond it if another were in front. I looked up and scanned the place. Amber served as the only customer. She sat at one table with a gray mask on.
Here we go.
I walked over to the other table and sat down.
She turned my way. “Why are you over there? Why not come here?”
“Six feet rule.”
“But, I know you’re healthy—”
“What do you want, Amber?”
She placed her gloved hands on the table in front of her. “How are you doing?”
Behind my mask, I glared at her.
“Okay.” She cleared her throat. “I just want a chance to explain why I did what I did.”
“Go ahead.”
“When you moved me in, I felt like you pulled away from me after a while.”
“No. You’re not going to make your cheating about me.”
“Please, Kamal.”
Seething, I leaned back in my chair.
“After our first argument, you pulled away. It’s the truth.”
“I left the seat up and you destroyed the bathroom and screamed for twenty minutes. Everything was all over the place. While I understand I should have put the seat down, the punishment didn’t fit the crime.”
“So, I went to counseling to improve my behavior.”
“Yes. I was there. I paid for the counseling. Why are we discussing this?”
Her eyes watered. “I didn’t think that you ever gave me a chance once I started going to counseling.”
“I stayed by your side. You snapped a lot.”
“The pills had bad side effects. And coming to New York after never being to the east coast was difficult to adjust too. I was depressed and. . .”
“That’s fine.” I shook her excuses away. “I understood all of that. The whole time, I remained next to you. I paid for your therapist and prescriptions. I remained patient hoping that all would get back to normal. And I would have waited even longer, but you cheated. That’s that.”
“But I want to explain why.”
“I don’t care why.” I leaned forward and took off my mask halfway. “Look at me.”
She widened her eyes.
“Do I look like I’m confused or questioning our relationship? Does it even look like I’ve lost sleep?”
Her voice went low. “No.”
“Do I look angry?”
She whispered, “No.”
I placed my mask back on. “I’m content with the end of our relationship. We’re done and I’m fine with that.”
Hate filled Amber’s eyes. “Because of her.”
“No. Because of you.” I pointed at Amber. “I wanted to end us the whole time you were being crazy and erratic, but I knew that when you love someone you must stick through it all. So I stayed. Faithfully. I didn’t like the screaming and throwing stuff, but a man doesn’t leave immediately without making sure things could change.”
Tears left her eyes and dotted her gray mask.
“And then you cheated.” I clapped my gloved hands together. “One minute, I’m mad. Enraged. Disgusted. An hour later, I’m. . .relieved. Guilt came because of it. Several more hours later, I’m more relaxed than I’ve ever been this 2020.”
“Don’t say that, Kamal.”
“Your cheating freed me. It made me walk away when I wouldn’t do it myself.”
“There were good times.”
“Not this year. It all sucked.” I held my hands out. “All of it. On the very first day, things were awkward. I thought I just needed to get used to you. What I had to realize was that. . .no. . .we weren’t supposed to live together at all. There was never a sense of comfort or love.”
“Let’s. . .try again.”
“Are you listening to me, Amber?”
She wiped at her tears. “We can go to counseling.”
“Engaged or married people go to counseling. They’ve put real time i
nto their situations and want to save it.” I waved my hands. “I don’t want to save this. I’m relieved, and I will be even more relieved when you are in California. Right now, you have become an annoyance that is hindering on me being happy.”
“Because of her.”
“Because of you.” I pointed. “You, Amber. That’s it. That should be your focus. There’s no one to blame—”
“But me?” More tears fell.
I sighed. “But you.”
More tears came and she coughed under her mask. The cashier rushed our way. “Oh no. You must go.”
“I’m not sick.” Amber wiped her tears. “I’m just crying.”
“You have to go.” He gestured to the door. “You haven’t made an order anyway.”
“It’s okay.” I rose. “She’s leaving, but I want to make an order.”
“Okay.” The man backed up. “But it’s time for her to go.”
Amber coughed some more. “It’s not the virus!”
“Everyone calm down.” I held my hands up. “Amber, we’ve had our conversation. Time to leave.”
The cashier held his hands on his hips and glared at me. “What do you want?”
“Medium cheese pizza with extra cheese.”
“Okay.” The cashier rushed off.
Amber got up from her chair and stood. “That’s it?”
“Goodbye, Amber. You’ll be fine. With this world’s craziness, you should be with your dad.”
“I want to be with you.”
“In a few months, you’ll be happy that I told you to leave.”
“I doubt that. No one ever loved me like you.”
“You’ll find even better.”
She held her hands out and stepped my way.
“No, Amber. No hugging.”
“This damn virus is ruining everything. This is no way for humans to live.”
“It doesn’t matter about the virus, Amber. I wouldn’t have wanted a hug regardless.”
Another tear spilled from her eye. Silent, she turned around and walked out of the pizza joint.
For a few seconds, my heart ached. I had no more love for Amber, but I didn’t like making her feel so bad.
I let out a long breath, pulled out my phone, and dialed my sister. She was the only person that would give me any rational advice. Ross hated her. And Tyler was the last person I would ever take guidance from.
“Kamal, how are you?” Zora sounded cheery. “You are going to be an uncle.”
“Good.”